Every golfer wants to play golf better! But The challenge for most amateur golfers is a lack flexibility/mobility and stability. Those are the primary physical qualities they need order to have the ability to maintain posture throughout the golf swing.

It’s these qualities that are necessary to  generate speed and power with minimal risk of injury.

“Most amateur golfers do not possess the physical capabilities to perform the required body movements that are involved in a mechanically correct golf swing.”_Brett Cohen

If you lack the flexibility/mobility and stability at the start a golf swing with proper posture it will be impossible to maintain proper posture throughout the swing! 

“You need to maintain the same hip flex, tilt and spine angle your putting and chipping as you do in the full swing, so therefore you need to be in good enough shape that you’re able to maintain and hold these positions in motion.”  _Clint Wright, a 30 Year PGA Professional in Anderson, SC.

What Is Golf Flexibility? 

Golf flexibility is the amount of movement, uninhibtited by range of motion restrictions, that a golfer needs to play golf to his or her potential. Optimal range of motion is a biomechanical prerequistite of the golf swing. It’s not something you can purchased at the proshop! You need to earn it!

So What Do You Stretch? 

The best way to determine what YOU need to stretch is by having a physical screen done which will determine what it is YOU can or cannot do in relation to what is required and desired of a mechanically correct golf swing. This screen was developed by the Titleist Performance Institute for golf professionals to identify any physical limitations that might be effecting their swing. I also use a length/tension assessment I learned from the C.H.E.K Institute Golf Fitness Specialist program. 

In The Meatime…..

Most amateurs are going to need to stretch the following:

• Chest
• Lats
• External Hip Rotators

Here are my 3 Best Stretches For Golf

1) Feldenkrais Neck/Shoulder Integrator 

Directions: Lie on your side with your knees slightly higher than your hips. I suggest you support your head with a 1/2 foam roller/rolled up towel, or similar object – in order to keep your head in line with the rest of your spine. Gently rest your hand on your forehead. Inhale slowly (up to a count of 4) as you roll your head away from the arm on the ground. When your body stops, exhale slowly (up to a count of 4). Repeat this movement 5 – 10 times or until you can comforatbly touch your shoulder, arm and head on the floor. 

2) Seated 90/90 Hip Stretch

Directions: Sit up tall with one leg in front of you bent 90 degrees at the ankle, knee, and hip and one leg behind you with your ankle, knee and hip bent 90 degrees . Reach across with your left hand and place it on top of your right knee, yoru left hand next to your hip with the fingers facing back. Tilt at the pelvis, take a deep breath and gently press your hand into your knee and knee into your hand. After 3 seconds exhale and bend forward from the hips. Repeat 3 – 5 times with each leg forward or until you cannot bend forward any longer. 

3) Reverse Wall Squat

Directions: Stand 6 – 10 inches from a wall with your feet facing straight ahead and your arms on the wall, straight at the elbow. Tilt your pelvis so that your butt goes back and continue to sit down as far as you can without your hands coming off the wall. With each squat you should be able to walk a little closer to the wall. Do at least 5 or until you can get your hips below your knees without your arms leaving the wall. This stretch will stretch the; lats, pecs, hips and calves all at the same time. 

Brett’s Bottom Line: 

These stretches can be categorized as corrective stretches in that they are needed by those who have muscles imbalances and joint restrictions that could potentially cause altered swing mechanics. When you golf with altered muscle length or muscle balance, your nervous system will create movement compensations in order to work around them. 

These stretches can be performed before exercise, before golfing (as long as you follow them up with a dynamic-stretching routine) and as a cool-down stretch. 

To learn more about how my Fit For Golf  program can help you achieve Longer Drives, Lower Scores and Fewer Injuries… Call: (917) 596-8485 or email: info@nygolffitnessguru.com and schedule your FREE strategy session. 

 

 

If you’re a golfer then you’re well aware of the bad things that can happen to the ball at impact. What I mean by bad is that the ball does not go in the direction you’d like it to. WHY? What causes swing faults? 

Answer-you do: “Most amateur golfers are not physically capable for peforming the required body movements that are involved in a mechanically correct golf swing.”

In English that means the average amateur simply doesn’t have enough mobility to get into a desirable postion and maintain it throughout the swing! The result: a golfer who is a weak ball striker and inconsistent. 

Your Most Important Piece Of Equipment

Far too often amateur golfers think that if they just get the latest equipment (whether it be a new driver on the market, a gadget that measures club head speed, or a gps watch), it will somehow dramatically improve their golf game.

 (this is what I call shiny object syndrome)

While technology can give a golfer great feedback and good equipment certainly plays a role in improving the performance of any athlete – the average amateur can’t get the most of all this technology because their body just doesn’t work the way it needs to to play the sport effectively and safely.

 One of my teachers said in a lecture:

“Give Wayne Gretzky a broom stick and he’s still gonna score a goal on you.”

It’s Not Your Fault

I once got an email promoting a new driver that promised to help you stop slicing and the opening line of the email was: “It’s Not Your Fault!”

Sorry – but it is your fault! You’re the one in control the club. The flight and destination of the ball is dependent upon the following: 

• clubface alignment
• swing path
• angle of attack at impact
• clubhead speed
• and sweet spot

Which are all dependent of whether or not, you the golfer, possess the physical pre-requisites needed to accomplish them. Those pre-requisites are:

• flexibility/mobility
• stability

Think of a bow and arrow. If you want to pull the string back on a bow, you must first stabilize the bow so you can stretch the string. The string is flexible/mobile, the bow is stable. The combination allows for force generation-or power. Letting the arrow fly is just like swinging the golf club from the top of the backswing to impact. The only difference is you don’t let go of the club.

(think of your left hip as the bow and your right shoulder as the end of the string) This is a natural sling system of the body.

 Your New Driver Can’t Fix What Your Body Doesn’t Have!

“Until you can get into a position, until you can move the joints the way they need to move, it will be very difficult to enhance your power and hit the ball with consistency. If we look at the people who struggle with golf it’s because they lack the flexibility and mobiltiy required to get into position.”_Michael Boyle, World Famous Strength and Conditioning Coach

No matter how technologically advanced your equipment is, it cannot endow the golfer with the physical abilities he or she does not possess. 

“Even the best clubs in the world can’t play the game for you.” 

Now What? 

So here’s the thing.. Golf is an easy game that’s just hard to play! Not only does your body neeed to move efficiently but you need instruction on how to do so. That’s where your golf pro is invaluable! He or she understands the nuances of the swing and how to help you improve it. 

My job as a golf fitness expert is simply to help golfers assess and overcome the physical limitations that prevent you from playing your best golf.  

First Step

Get a physical assessment that helps to quickly identify any physical limitations that may be causing swing innefficiences and then let’s put together an exercise program to help get you on track. You deserve to PLAY GOLF BETTER!

“Like so many others, I took regular golf lessons but resisted the notion that I was out of shape. That all changed when I herniated a disc three years ago. I have been working with Brett ever since. I now understand what I believe to be true for every golfer over 50, namely that we are unable to produce the swing that our pros are teaching us.” _ Mark C. (New York City) 

How Do You Get Started? 

To schedule your golf fitness assessment: Call (917) 596-8485